A Guide to Disney Cruises
Here is a quick and easy guide to Disney cruises. If you’re trying to decide between or cruise or a Disney vacation, why not both?! Disney Cruiseline is easily the best cruise line for families, offering some of the best ships cruising to the best destinations.
Today, we will give a quick overview of the Disney ships, popular Disney cruise itineraries, and why to choose a Disney cruise.
Plan your Disney cruise with a Disney Travel Agent!
Before we get to the guide to Disney Cruises, let me tell you a little bit about myself. My name is Amy, and I’m a Florida resident, Disney Annual Passholder, mom of the Florida Travel with Kids kids, and a Disney College of Knowledge graduate. I keep up with the latest Disney news; it’s my job! If you’re interested in saving money and time by booking with a Disney Travel Agent, make sure to contact me!
Why Choose Disney Cruise Line?
Disney Cruise Line offers a unique blend of exceptional service, family-friendly entertainment, and immersive Disney storytelling. Disney Cruise Line is fantastic for families, but you’ll also find many adults who enjoy the exceptional service without children. No matter who you travel with, you’ll find:
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Unparalleled Entertainment: Broadway-style shows, deck parties, character meet-and-greets, and first-run Disney movies.
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Spacious Staterooms: Thoughtfully designed rooms, many with split bathrooms to make family travel easier. Unlike many other cruise lines, you’ll find more options for 5 guests or sometimes more.
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World-Class Dining: Rotational dining lets you experience different themed restaurants, all with exceptional service.
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Dedicated Kids and Adult Spaces: Kids’ clubs, teen lounges, and adults-only areas like exclusive pools, spas, and fine dining.
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Castaway Cay: Disney’s private island in the Bahamas, reserved exclusively for Disney Cruise Line guests.
Disney Cruise Line includes some things that other cruise lines do not, such as soft drinks, 24/7 room service, and other upscale amenities that you’ll only find standard on Disney Cruiseline! Oh, and don’t forget your Minnie Ears! If you love to dress up at Disney, you can definitely do the same on your cruise.
Meet the Disney Cruise Ships
Let’s start this guide to Disney cruises with an overview of all the ships in Disney’s fleet. Each Disney ship offers unique experiences but shares the same high standard of service and storytelling.
Now, let’s talk about each of the six ships.
1. Disney Magic
The original Disney cruise ship, the Disney Magic combines classic elegance with modern amenities. Popular for Mediterranean and European itineraries, as well as sailings from Florida and occasionally New York.
2. Disney Wonder
Known for its Alaskan cruises, the Disney Wonder offers breathtaking scenery, along with sailings to Mexico, the Pacific Coast, and the occasional repositioning cruise through the Panama Canal.
3. Disney Dream
Perfect for short getaways, the Disney Dream primarily sails from Florida to the Bahamas, including frequent stops at Castaway Cay. It’s famous for the AquaDuck water coaster and quick 3- and 4-night itineraries.
4. Disney Fantasy
The Disney Fantasy typically offers 7-night Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida. It features extended itineraries and an elaborate, immersive sailing experience, including themed nights like Star Wars Day at Sea and Marvel Day at Sea on select sailings.
5. Disney Wish
One of the newer ships that started sailing in 2022, the Disney Wish is a floating masterpiece of Disney storytelling. It sails mostly 3- and 4-night cruises to the Bahamas and Castaway Cay. With first-of-its-kind attractions like the AquaMouse water ride and new immersive dining experiences, the Wish is setting a new standard for family cruising. The Disney Wish is the largest in the fleet and the first Wish class.
6. Disney Treasure
The newest Disney ship, the Disney Treasure, started sailing in 2024 with even more adventure with new themed spaces and destinations, focusing on exploration and storytelling. This ship sails from Florida with mostly Caribbean itineraries. This is the second ship in the Wish-class.
Popular Disney Cruise Itineraries
The Disney Cruise itineraries vary by year and season, but here are some of the most common itineraries for Disney cruise ships.
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Bahamas: Quick 3- and 4-night sailings with a stop at Castaway Cay.
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Caribbean: 5- to 7-night cruises exploring both Eastern and Western Caribbean islands.
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Alaska: Stunning summer sailings to the Alaskan wilderness.
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Europe: Mediterranean, Northern Europe, and transatlantic repositioning cruises.
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Specialty Sailings: Holiday cruises, Marvel Day at Sea, Star Wars Day at Sea, and Pixar Day at Sea on select itineraries.
Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island in the Bahamas.
Disney Cruise Departure Ports
This quick guide to Disney cruises would not be complete without talking about the different departure ports. Disney Cruise Line sails from several convenient ports, giving you plenty of options to start your magical journey. Here are some of the key homeports:
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Port Canaveral, Florida: The main hub for Disney cruises and the closest port to Walt Disney World. Most Bahamian and Caribbean itineraries sail from here.
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Fort Lauderdale, Florida: A newer homeport for Disney, offering Caribbean and Bahamian sailings, including trips to Disney’s new private destination, Lighthouse Point.
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Galveston, Texas: Seasonal sailings to the Caribbean and the Bahamas, often during fall and winter months.
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New Orleans, Louisiana: Limited seasonal cruises to the Caribbean and the Bahamas with the charm of a unique departure city.
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San Diego, California: Popular for Mexican Riviera cruises and seasonal sailings along the Pacific Coast.
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Vancouver, Canada: The gateway to Disney’s Alaska cruises.
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European Ports: In the summer, Disney Cruise Line offers sailings from ports like Barcelona, Spain, and Rome, Italy, for Mediterranean and Northern Europe itineraries.
Benefits of Adding a pre-cruise Walt Disney World stay to Your Disney Cruise
If you’ll be cruising out of one of the ports in Florida (especially Port Canaveral), why not add a day or two at Disney World first? Many families spend a day or two (or more!) at the parks before setting sail, creating the ultimate Disney vacation.
Seamless Transportation: Disney offers ground transfers from Walt Disney World to Port Canaveral, making the transition from land to sea easy and stress-free. It’s also possible to visit Disney before sailing out of Fort Lauderdale.
Maximize Your Magic: Experience the best of both worlds by combining the thrills of the theme parks with the relaxation of a cruise.
Time Zone Adjustment: If you’re traveling from a different time zone, arriving a day or two early at Disney can help you adjust before boarding your ship.
A Guide to Disney Cruises
I hope this guide to Disney cruises helps you get an idea of the different Disney ships, Disney itineraries, and why to choose a Disney Cruise. If you want to chat more or get more ideas about your Disney Cruise, I’d love to help you! Contact me today.
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About Florida Travel With Kids
Florida Travel with Kids was started by a family who loves to travel the state of Florida with kids! This site will help you explore the fun state of Florida and all of the kid-friendly activities you’ll find here.
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